Michael Jackson’s Glittery Glove Goes Up for Auction

The sparkling glittery glove that Michael Jackson wore the night he moonwalked his way into the music history books is now up for grabs. Jackson donned the glove on November 21, 1983 for the 'Motown 25th Anniversary Special,' in which he performed the moonwalk for the very first time. The glove will be auctioned off at a Music Icon's event at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York's Times Square.

Although he would go on to wear several gloves made for his right hand, this particular glove is a mesh covered left-handed glove adorned with several rhinestones. It is expected to sell for upwards of $40,000-$60,000 and has belonged to musician Walter "Clyde" Orange, who received it from Jackson the night he wore it.

A founding member of the Commodores, Orange and Jackson became close after touring together in the 1970s. Orange often asked Jackson for an autograph, which he refused to do stating that he was the least famous of the two. Orange's autograph requests would go on to become an inside joke between he and the King of Pop.

After Jackson's iconic performance of 'Billie Jean,' he met Orange backstage and gave him the glove in place of his signature. "There's a hundred other gloves out there, but this is the one you want. He blew up after that (performance) with 'Billie Jean,'" Orange said in an interview. "The world should see this. This is the first. That's the song that made him shoot through the roof as a superstar."

Darren Julien, of Julien's Auction, is putting the glove up for sale alongside items from Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Elvis. Proceeds of the sale will benefit the MusiCares Foundation, which helps musicians dealing with substance abuse.